Looper-operating mechanism for sewing machines



Feb. '1'0, 192s. I A. B. CLAYTON LOOPER' OPERATING MECHANISM FOR; SEWING IACHTNES Filed- Oct. 1 1921 INVENTOR 7 0 Patented Feb. 10, 1.925.

UNIT-TED STATES PA TENT OFFICE.

AnnnEwB. ctnrironjor Union, new Jersey, ASSIGNOR'TO THE sinesn MANU- recrunnve COMPANY, oFELIZABETEBNEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION or new JERSEY.

LOOZE'ER- OPERATING MEGHANISM FOB SEWING MACHINES.

Application filed October 1,1921. Serial No. 504,644.

To all "LU/10H). it ma a concern:

Be it known that I, AINDREW B. CLAY- CON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Union, inthe county of Union and "State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and "useful Improvements in Looper-Operating Mechanisms for. Sewing Machines, of which" the'following is a speciiication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to sewing machines and particularly to the looper operating mechanism of chain-stitch machines.

In loopenoperating mechanisms of the type wherein an inclined cpiirand sleeve connection is employed between the looperaotuating shaft and the looper for moving the latter 1 in the' usual elliptical path, as disclosed for example in 3 they patent to Albert H. De Voe, No. 1,085,801, February 3, 19141, considerable difficulty has been encountered in machining the partstothe degree of accuracy required for successful "assemblage and operation. 'l Vhere, as in the machine of the De Voe patent,theinclined pin and sleeve are held in fixed angular relation with their respective supporting elements, it is necessary that a high degree of accuracy be attained in the manufactureof the pin-carrier and sleeve element and in the location of the various centers, otherwise the parts when assembled will cramp or bind upon one another, thereby causing'excessive wear. Furthermore, even if the pin is set at the correct angle of inclination,

a high degree of accuracy *must be attained in locating the axis of the looper carrier relative to the-main shaft, else the position of the looper-point relative to the needle at the time the looper begins its loop-seizing stroke, will not be correct. If the position incorrect due to errors in manufac time, no adjustments are provided in l-prior constructions ofthis character wherebysuch position may be corrected.

An objectot the present invention there fore is tolprovide a looper mechanism of the class described with adjustments of such character that errors in manufacture may be readily compensated for and, further, that the point of the looper may be set to the correct distance from the needle so as to seize the needle leop at the instant the latter has expanded to. the proper Site.

Another object of the invention is to provide tor the adjustment of the side throw or so-called needle-avoidingmotion of the looper, so that the extent of such motion may be varied to suit the particular needle used t being generally understood that the larger the diameter ofthe needle the greater should be the side throw of the looper.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary tront'side elevation of the sewing machine embody-ingthe invention. Fig.2 is-a fragmentary front end elevation of t'he'same. Figs. 3'and 1 are views of the looper mechanism modified by the addition of a further adjustment for varying the side throw or needle-avoiding movement of the looper and illustrating the et' feet of one of the primary adjustments. The needle and main-shaft occupy the same positions inFigs. 3 and 4. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the eccentric strap element shown in Figs-1 and 2. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail perspective views of parts of the looper mechanism, and Fig. 8 is an elevation of the modified form of eccentric strap and sleeve members shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

In the embodiment ofthe invention illustrated for the purposes of the present disclosure 1 represents the bed-casting of a machine of the type illustrated in said Do Voe patent. Journaled in the bed 1 is the rotai'ymain-sliaft 2 on which is fixed the looper-actuating eccentric 3, formed at one end with the integral flanged collar 3 through which passes the usual setscrews 3. The machine'is provided with the usual reciprocating needle a,presser-toot 5 and feed dog 6'which are constructed and operated in the usual manner.

Cooperating with the needle 4 is the looper T which, in the particular machine illustrated, is-fixed to the l0o1:)er-carricr arm 8 secured by the screw 9 to. the grooved block 10 on the sleeve 11 which ismounted on a fixed horizontal looper-supporting pin 1.2 for rocking and endwise sliding movements. The pin 12pis preferably mounted in substantial parallelism with the mainshaft 2. v

The sleeve member 11 ot' the looper-carrier is formed on its side remote from the main-shaft 2 with a boss 13 which is provided with an aperture 14 transversely of m nonantersectmg relation with, the

axis of said sleeve member. The aperture 14: affords a socket for the pin 15 which is formed at one end with the transverse head 16. The head 16 is apertured at 17 to provide a socket for the inclined pin 18 which latter is fixed in the head 16 by set-screws 19. The pin 18 enters the sleeve 20 carried by and tangentially of the eccentric strap 20 embracing the eccentric The sleeve 20 may be formed integral with the eccentric strap 20 as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 and in said De Voe patent, or may be constructed separately from the strap 20 and adjustably pivoted to the latter, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 8, so that its angle of inclination to the axis of the main-shaft may be altered to vary the degree of needleavoiding motion imparted to the looper. To this latter end the strap 20 may be formed with a seat 20 havin an aperture which receives the pivot pin 20 on the sleeve member; such member being also provided with the oppositely disposed ears 2O having slots 2O curved concentric with the pin 20 and entered by screws 2O which are threaded into the eccentric strap 20.

The pins 18 and 15 are disposed at an angle to one another and the latter is adjustably secured in the socket 14 by means of set-screws 21. The eccentric strap 20 is confined on the eccentric 3 between the flanged collar 3, )reviously referred to, and a second flanged collar 3 formed integral with the usual feed-lift eccentric 3, described in said De Voe patent.

By mounting the inclined pin 18 so that its inclination to the shaft 2 may be varied or, in other words, by adjustably swivelling the pin 18 transversely of the pin 12 or shaft 2, it may readily be set to line up with the inclined sleeve 20 and operate without binding or cramping. Furthermore, the point of the looper may be shifted relative to the needle-path, Without disturbing the timing of the reversal of motion of the looper relative to that of the needle. by adjusting the pin 15 lengthwise of the socket 14:, as shown in Figs. 3 and at; a slight lengthwise movement of the pin 15 effecting a relatively large shift of the point of the looper. The needle and looper may thus continue to reverse their respective motions simultaneously, regardless of the foregoing adjustment; the looper beginning its advancing stroke as the needle begins its upstroke, as is desirable in insuring entry of the looper loop by the needle on the downstroke of the latter. This adjustment enables the looper point to be set by a suitable gauge to the correct distance from the needle when the looper is beginning its loopseizing stroke and the needle is beginning its up-stroke.

The lateral working position of the looper is determined by the setting of the eccentric 3 lengthwise of the main-shaft 2, while the time of reversal of the motion of the looper is determined by the position of the eccentric 3 circumferentially of the main-shaft 2.

It will be evident that in the form of construction illustrated in Figs. 8, a and 8, the angle of inclination of the pin-andsleeve connection 18, 20 to the shaft 2 may be varied, and the amplitude of needleavoiding motion of the looper altered, by loosening the screws 21 and 2O and swinging the elements of the pin-and-sleeve connection about the respective pivots 15 and 20 to the desired extent. After this adjustment is made, the looper should be set to the correct lateral position relative to the needle by adjusting the eccentric 3 longitudinally of the main-shaft. It is to be understood, however, that it is not essential to the invention, in certain aspects, that both members of the pin-and-sleeve connection be adjustable on their respective carrier members. t is only when it is desired to incorporate in the machine a provision for adjusting the amplitude of the needleavoiding movement of the looper that both of such members are mounted for pivotal adjustment.

The looper as shown, is of the nonthread carrying type. It is to be understood, however, that the present improve ment is useful in driving loopers of any of the usual types designed to perform loopseizing and needle-avoiding movements.

I am aware of the patent to Onderdonk No. 679,906, of August 6, 1901, disclosing a looper driving mechanism including a looper-driving pin which is inclined to the looper-driving shaft. In the Onderdonk construction, however, the axis of the inclined pin must intersect the respective axes of the main-shaft and looper-carrier, thereby necessitating the making of two adjustments when it is desired to alter the angle of inclination of the pin. I do not claim broadly the use of an adjustably inclined pin in a looper-drive.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is- 1. In a looper mechanism, in combination, a looper driving shaft, an eccentric thereon, an eccentric strap, a looper-support, a looper having rocking and sliding movement on said looper-support, and a pin-and-sleeve sliding connection disposed between said eccentric strap and looper and inclined to said looper-driving shaft, one of the ele ments of said inclined pin-and-sleeve connection being adjustable transversely of the axis of rocking movement of the looper carrier to alter the position of the looper point.

2. In a looper mechanism, in combination, a looper, a loopercarrier mounted for rocking and sliding movements, an actuatlit) ill)

ing shaft, an eccentric thereon, a strap embracing said eccentric, a sleeve secured to said strap and having its axis in non-intersecting relation with and at an acute angle to the axis of the actuating shaft, and a pin mounted on said looper-carrier for pivotal adjustment whereby it may be readily set to line up with said sleeve.

3. In a looper mechanism, a looper driving shaft, a looper mounted to perform a tion between said looper and eccentric strap,

oneof the elements of said connection being pivotally adjustable to vary its angular relationship to the looper driving shaft.

5. In a looper mechanism, a looper driving shaft, a looper mounted to perform a rocking movement transverse to said shaft and a sliding movement parallel to said shaft, an eccentric on said shaft, an eccentric strap, and a pin-and-sleeve sliding connection between said looper and said eccentric strap, one of the elements of said connection being both bodily and pivotally adjustable relative to the axis of sliding movement of the looper.

6. In a looper mechanism, in combination, a looper driving shaft, a looper-support, a looper mounted for rocking and sliding movements on said looper-support, an eccentric on said shaft, an eccentric strap, and a pin-and-sleeve sliding connection between said eccentric strap and looper adjustable toward and from the axis of rocking movement of the looper.

tric thereon, an eccentric strap, a looper, a-

looper-supporting shaft, and a pin-andsleeve sliding connection between said eccentric strap and said looper, one of theelements of said connection being adj ustably swivelled transversely of the axis of said looper-supporting shaft so as to line up with its mating element.

8. A looper mechanism having, in com bination, a looper, a looper-support on which the looper is mounted for loop-seizing and side-wise movements, an actuating ec centric, and a pin-and-sleeve sliding connection disposed between said looper and eccentric and inclined to the axis of rotation of the latter, and means permitting adjustment of the angle of such inclination of the pin-and-sleeve connection to alter the amplitude of said side-wise movement.

9. A looper mechanism having, in combination, an actuating eccentric, an eccentric strap, a sleeve mounted on and transversely of the axis of said eccentric strap, means whereby said sleeve may be adjusted to vary the angular relation of its axis to the axis of said eccentric, a looper mounted for loop-seizing and sidewise movements, and an adjustable pin connected to move with said looper and entering said sleeve.

10. A looper mechanism having, in com bination, an actuating eccentric, an eccentric strap, a looper mounted for loop-seizing and sidewise movements, means includ ing a pin-and-sleeve sliding connection between said looper and eccentric strap for imparting to the looper its operative movements, one of the elements of said pin-andsleeve connection being adjustably mounted on said eccentric strap so that its angle of inclination to the axis of said strap may be varied, and the other element of said connection being adjustable to conform to the first-mentioned element.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ANDREW B. CLAYTON. 

